Rep. Shawn McPherson

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; establish the English learner enhanced support program under the Department of Education to help bring English learners with little or no formal education to grade-level proficiency within three years; require the department to set standards for program, contract with a provider meeting certain standards and with record of success with qualified English learners, identify eligible districts or schools, offer the program to as many students as funds permit, and report to the Legislative Research Commission regarding progress of program; permit KDE to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the program.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a policy bill. It designates February 14, 2025, as "Making Our Schools Safe (MOSS) Day" in Kentucky to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Parkland, Florida school shooting and honor victims like Alyssa Alhadeff. The resolution acknowledges Kentucky's existing school safety efforts, including investments in school resource officers and mental health services, and pays tribute to first responders and victims of school violence. It has no new funding or legislative requirements - only ceremonial recognition.

Create a new section of KRS 186.400 to 186.640 to define "identity document" and "third-party entity"; require the Transportation Cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to establish procedures to allow third-party entities to apply to the Transportation Cabinet to be approved to accept applications for certain identity documents; set forth minimum standards for third-party issuance; and allow third-party entities to charge a fee for services provided.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish the employers' organ and bone marrow donation tax credit; amend KRS 141.0205 to provide the ordering of the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow disclosure of certain information on the credit to the Legislative Research Commission; provide that Section 1 of this Act may be cited as the Living Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Assistance Act of 2025.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 600 to enumerate the rights of incarcerated children; provide that the Act may be cited as the Incarcerated Children's Bill of Rights.

Maddy summaryHB 1 reduces Kentucky's individual income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This change directly affects all Kentucky residents who file individual income tax returns. The bill permanently lowers the rate for the specified tax years, with the reduction taking effect after a review process that confirmed fiscal conditions were met. Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill into law on February 6, 2025 (Acts Ch. 1), making it effective for 2026 tax filings.

Amend KRS 141.019 to exclude all distributions from military pension plans received by retired members of the United States military and National Guard and their surviving spouse or former spouse under a survivor benefit plan from income taxation for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, but before January 1, 2030; require reporting by the Department of Revenue; amend KRS 131.190 to conform.

Maddy summaryHB 118 permits Western Kentucky University (WKU) to offer up to five research doctoral degree programs, including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, in fields directly tied to Kentucky's workforce and economic needs. This amendment to Kentucky law (KRS 164.295) specifically overrides a previous restriction that barred comprehensive universities like WKU from granting PhDs, except for limited exceptions. The bill requires WKU to demonstrate alignment with workforce demands and ensure new programs do not reduce funding for existing academic programs at other public universities. The change directly affects WKU's academic offerings and its ability to expand graduate education in targeted disciplines.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 382 to require an owner of land comprising a subdivision, in a county which has not adopted regulations under KRS Chapter 100, relating to planning and zoning, for the subdivision of land within its boundaries, to record a plat of the subdivision in the office of the county clerk; establish penalties for violations.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 247 to define terms, prohibit a nonresident alien, foreign business, foreign agent, trustee, or fiduciary associated with the government of any proscribed country referenced in 22 C.F.R. sec. 126.1 from the purchase, lease, or acquisition of agricultural land in Kentucky or participation in programs administered by the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Development Board, and Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation; allow an existing foreign-owned business to purchase adjacent agricultural land to expand the operations of the business; exempt foreign ownership or leasing of up to 350 acres for research purposes; establish the Kentucky Foreign Investment Review Board to review applications for appeal for those on the prohibited countries list wishing to purchase, lease, or acquire agricultural land, set forth requirements of the board to approve or deny an application for appeal, establish a process for an application for appeal, authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations; allow an applicant who is denied an appeal to purchase agricultural land to appeal the final decision in Circuit Court; require a county clerk to record an affidavit on any deed that conveys agricultural land and report the affidavit recordings monthly to the Kentucky Foreign Investment Review Board, require the Kentucky Foreign Investment Review Board to report to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States each month; set forth requirements to divest land that has been purchased, leased, or denied without approval of the Kentucky Foreign Investment Review Board, and direct the distribution of sale proceeds.